Green Party wants West Midlands bank to back new businesses

Green James Burn will also appoint a citizen’s jury, reflecting a cross-section of the region’s population to hold the mayor to account if he wins the May 4 election to become the first West Midlands Mayor.

A West Midlands bank should be set up to back small and new businesses the High Street lenders won’t according to the Green Party’s candidate for mayor.

Green candidate James Burn will also appoint a citizen’s jury, reflecting a cross-section of the region’s population to hold the mayor to account if he wins the May 4 election to become the first West Midlands Mayor.

In his manifesto, launched today (Weds 5th) he will promise that ‘no-one will be left behind’ and promise to focus investment and jobs in the West Midlands deprived area.

Mr Burn, a social worker, will launch his manifesto in Chelmsley Wood - the ward he represents on Solihull Council - arguing that these areas need to share the jobs and prosperity enjoyed by the city and town centres.

Cllr Burn said: “People are rightly fed up of politicians that don’t listen and plans that don’t work for normal people. We’ve seen a growth in money and power in the West Midlands over the last few years, but it hasn’t been shared out.

James Burn, Green Party

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“The West Midlands Combined Authority simply must start taking this problem seriously. One reason they haven’t is because the Authority is run almost exclusively by older white men who have chosen their own colleagues to scrutinise them and hold them to account.

“My manifesto ensures that as our region moves forward, no-one will get left behind; that money and power get shared out far better. It shows how we can involve more people in decision making so we then make better decisions. It shows how we can make sure that economic growth benefits everyone, not just the wealthiest.

“I haven’t made any wild promises I can’t keep in this manifesto. I have, however, been clear about the direction in which I want to lead the West Midlands in every area over which the WMCA or mayor has some control or influence now, or seems likely to in the future. I am committed to a new type of politics of openness and transparency – and that starts now with an open and complete policy agenda

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West Midlands Mayor - all you need to know

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Radically transforming how the combined authority is run, making sure it involves far more people in making decisions and ensuring the authority and mayor work for the good of everyone in the West Midlands. Policies to achieve this include:

· Holding a monthly “mayor’s question time” event for the public and journalists, moving its meeting around council chambers across the region.

· Pressing for the WMCA board and scrutiny board to be representative of the West Midlands especially in terms of gender, age and ethnicity

· Giving the scrutiny board more resources and teeth

· Getting voluntary, community and small business represented at all levels of the WMCA